Vucic: Excellent meeting with Bassani, World Bank crucial for major projects

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Antonella Bassani in Belgrade on Wednesday to discuss key global challenges and Serbia's plans and projections for next year, and expressed a desire to strengthen further the partnership with the World Bank through future investments and projects.

"An excellent meeting with the World Bank vice president for Europe and Central Asia, with whom I exchanged views on key global challenges, Serbia's plans and projections for next year, as well as on potentials for expanding the portfolio with the World Bank as one of the most significant global financial institutions," Vucic wrote in a post on his buducnostsrbijeav Instagram account.

He said he was pleased with the cooperation with the World Bank to date and expressed a desire to further strengthen the partnership through future investments and projects that were changing the face of Serbia.

"I informed the esteemed interlocutor in more detail of Serbia's ambitious plans, and cooperation with the World Bank would be crucial for carrying out major projects, especially when it comes to complex energy infrastructure that would contribute to Serbia's greater independence when it comes to energy supplies," Vucic added.

Serbia continues to pave the way for dynamic economic development oriented to the future, while being firmly positioned as a pillar of stability and opportunity in a world increasingly shaped by uncertainty, Vucic posted.

"In that sense, we discussed energy transition with emphasis on renewable sources and energy efficiency, innovation and digitalisation, which is seeing a stable trend of growth and development in our country, as well as the necessity of increasing the efficiency of state institutions," Vucic added.

He noted that Serbia continued to carry out all projects in spite of external and internal challenges, especially in light of growing trade conflicts that were creating uncertainty and slowing down the global economy and the usual dynamics.

"In that sense, I reiterated that Serbia still enjoys great trust among investors, which binds us to continue to act responsibly and to keep improving Serbia's credit rating in spite of challenges to reduce the costs of borrowing and attract additional investments. I also noted that Serbia feels the consequences of tariff measures and external risks and tensions, but that, through a serious policy, it had succeeded in maintaining a stable fiscal and monetary policy," Vucic added.